Suction cleaner



May 28, 1935. H. B. WHITE 7 SUCTION CLEANER Filed NOV. 9, 1933 Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER poration of Ohio Application November 9, 1933, Serial No. 697,233

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel improvements in the electrical connections thereof. More specifically the invention comprises the combination of an electrical motor with an electrical terminal block which is mounted upon the motor frame in a new and novel manner, making use of certain space provided in the motor and resulting in no increase in the over-all dimensions thereof.

Electrical suction cleaners of advance design today are provided with lighting means, commonly known as dirt finders, which direct light rays ahead of the cleaner nozzle and on to the surface covering undergoing cleaning. They are also provided with means, such as condensers, which reduce the static, or radio interference effect, of the cleaner motor and which are conneoted in the electrical circuit of the machine. The provision of the lighting means and the static-eliminating means in combination with the regular electrical circuit of the motor, and the switches for operating the motor and the lighting means, results in a complicated inter-connection of wires which, if allowed to extend through the motor in a haphazard fashion, produces an unsafe condition. In the suction cleaner motor constructed in accordance with the present invention a terminal block made of insulating material is mounted upon the motor frame in a new and novel manner within the normal contour of the motor and makes use of unused space within the normal confines of the motor casing. To this terminal block the electrical leads of the machine are connected thereby eliminating unsafe inter-connection of the various parts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electric motor construction for a suction cleaner. It is another object to provide, in a suction cleaner, an electrical motor provided with an insulated terminal block to which the various leads of the motor are connected. A still further object is the provision of an insulated terminal block in an electrical motor which is mounted within the normal confines thereof and which is carried by the motor frame. Still another object is the provision of an electrical motor provided with spaced arms at its ends which carry a bearing for the motor armature, the arms being spaced for a part of their length from the armature and the axis of rotation, and a terminal block being mounted on the arms within the normal confines of the motor. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed:

Figure l is a side view of a suction cleaner with certain parts broken away showing the cleaner motor constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the cleaner shown in Figure 1 with certain parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the insulated terminal block removed from the motor;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connections of the suction cleaner.

Referring again to the drawing, a modern suc- .o

curing means bearing the reference character 8.

The cleaner motor, indicated generally by the reference character 9, is mounted upon the main casing immediately above the fan chamber 2. To the cleaner, and to the main casing in particular, is pivotally connected a handle l0 through which the operator may exert a propelling force and which also serves as the supporting means for the incoming current-carrying leads ll, l2 and 13 which, after passing through the interfltting plug members I4 and I 5 extend to the motor 9.

The driving motor 9 of the cleaner is seen to comprise a cylindrical casing member H, which seats directly upon the fan chamber 2 and is removably secured thereto as by screws l6. Gasing portion ll encloses the motor field, the stacks l8 and the windings I9 of which are clearly visible in Figure 2. Upwardly from the casing I! extend the arms 20 of the motor frame which may be formed integrally with casing section I! or may extend therethrough in any suitable manner. As shown in the drawing, however, casing section I1 and motor frame arms 20, 20 etc. are integral and the casing section is in fact a part of the frame, but serves also as a part of the motor casing through being formed in a continuous enclosing cylinder as disclosed. The arms 20, 20

extend upwardly from the casing section H, as described, and converge at a central point to form a seat 2| in which is carried a bearing 22. The shaft 23 of the armature is seated rotatably in this bearing with the commutator 24 positioned on the shaft immediately therebelow and within the enclosure defined by the spaced arms 20. Two of the spaced arms are seen to be designed to serve as seats for the commutator brushes 25, 25. The windings of the armature are indicated by the reference character 26, and are seen to be positioned below the commutator 24 and surrounded by the motor field.

As is seen in Figures 1 and 2 the commutator 24 is of smaller diameter than the armature proper and there results a space between the arms and the commutator. In this space, as is clearly shown in the drawing, is positioned a semi-circular terminal block 21 formed preferably of insulating material. Block 21 is so shaped that it underlies three of the arms 20, being removably secured thereto by screws 28, which extend through the arms and into suitable threaded seats 29 in the block itself. The exterior curved wall of the block is provided with seats 30 which arev separated by raised ridges or bafiies 3i and are provided centrally with screw terminals 32 which are adapted to clamp the ends of incoming leads. As is clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3 in particular, the individual seats are indicated by the words Blue, Yellow, Black, Red, Green. To this terminal block 27 all the leads of the motor are conducted in a manner which will hereinafter be set forth. I

Mounted on the motor 9 is a floor covering lighting means comprising a reflector 35 which carries a light socket 36 in which is removably positioned a lamp 31. A switch 38 is also carried by the reflector 35. The reflector is itself secured in place by means of a screw 39 which extends through a wall thereof into the motor frame there being a band or ring 30 which seats upon the top of the casing portion ll of the motor.

In order that the cleaner motor in its operation will not interfere with radio operation staticeliminating condensers 'il have been provided which are suitably mounted in a housing member 42 carried by the casing portion ll of the motor. Condenser M is also connected into the electrical circuit of the motor as will be hereinafter described.

The outer casing of the motor is completed by the presence of a removable cap 55 which seats upon the band 40 and closely surrounds the spaced arms 29, 20, extending closely adjacent the bearing seat 2!.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawing in particular the electrical circuit of the suction cleaner by which the various parts of the motor, the lighting means, and the static-eliminating condensers, are all connected through the terminal block is disclosed. As above described the incoming power leads H, l2 and I3 extend down from the cleaner handle 40, through the interfitting male and female plug connections l4 and i5, and into the motor proper. Lead ll extends directly to the red terminal of the block and from that point a lead 50 extends to a central high speed tap of the motor winding i9, while another lead 5| enters the condenser block 4| so that the static-eliminating means will be operative when the motor runs at high speed. A third lead 52 extends from the red terminal directly to the electric lighting means 31.

The second incoming power lead 12 extends to the green terminal, of the block, and from that point a lead 53 extends through the outside of one of the field windings IS, a slow speed motor connection. A lead 54 also extends from the green terminal to the condenser block 4| so that the static-eliminating means can function when the motor runs at slow speed.

The third incoming power lead I3 extends directly to the blue terminal of the block and from that point a lead 55 reaches to an outside terminal of the motor field winding I9, the current entering through the lead 55 passing through one portion of the field winding is, by a lead 56 to the brushes of the commutator, through the armature and to the opposite side of the second field portion l 9. The lead 56 is an internal motor connection. A lead 51 also extends from the blue terminal to the condenser block.

In order that the condenser 4| may be connected across each portion of the field winding additional leads 58, 59 extend to the motor field by way of the yellow and black terminals, respectively, of the block. The condenser is also seen to be connected to ground, that is the motor frame or casing, by a lead 60.

The completion of the circuit through the light 3i is provided by the lead 6! which extends from the light switch 38 to the black terminal which is itself connected by the lead 59 to the exterior terminal of one field winding B9. The connection is such that the passage of current through the light is assured whether the motor runs at high or low speed.

The inter-connection of the various leads described in relation to Figure 4 is encompassed in the construction described with a minimum of connections and with a neat and scientific arrangement of leads. No unnecessary duplication of leads is found necessary, a central source of supply being provided by theterminal block. The block itself being provided within the normal contour of the machine has not increased its size but has bettered its performance through the elimination of the danger of short-circuiting.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a motor having a sta tionary field, a frame including spaced arms which extend axially and radially at the side of said field to provide a bearing seat at a point spaced at the side of said field, a bearing in said seat, an armature carried by said frame with its shaft mounted in said bearing; a terminal block including mutually insulated terminals carried by said frame and extended between certain of said spaced arms, said block being positioned between said arms and said armature, said terminals facing radially outward between the axially extending portion of said arms; and current-carrying leads connected to said terminals and between said terminals and said motor.

2. In a suction cleaner, a motor having a stationary field, a frame including spaced arms which extend axially and radially at the side of said field to provide a bearing seat at a point spaced at the side of said field, a bearing in said seat, an armature carried by said frame with its shaft mounted in said bearing; an arcuate terminal block of insulating material provided with spaced terminals carried by said frame concentrically of the longitudinal axis of the motor, said block being secured to certain of said arms and said terminals facing radially outward between the axially extending portions of said arms; and

current-carrying leads connected to said terminals and between said terminals and said motor, characterized in that said terminal block is entirely positioned within the longitudinal limits of said motor as defined by said frame.

HARRY B. WHITE. 

